The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Highland Park Community Foundation. These funds will be used to support the Foundation Youth Initiative (FYI). The Parks Foundation provides financial assistance to residents in need to ensure that all families can participate in the Park District of Highland Park’s recreational offerings. FYI was established in 2018 to expand the Foundation’s reach to residents of surrounding communities, including Highwood, who rely on programs offered by the Park District of Highland Park. The Parks Foundation bridges the gap between public resources and the funding needed to maintain a vibrant park system.

FYI currently supports the successful Paddlers Learn to Swim Program by offering free swim instruction to young children, predominantly Highwood residents. The Community Foundation grant will be instrumental in allowing more youngsters to learn this critical life skill. Along with contributions from other generous sponsors and donors, this grant will help the Parks Foundation expand and fulfill its mission of ensuring equal access to quality athletic instruction, year-round outdoor activities, and other recreational opportunities for all community members.

“We are grateful that the Highland Park Community Foundation recognizes the immense value of the Parks Foundation and its Foundation Youth Initiative,” said Parks Foundation Board President Bob Bernstein. “Our mission is to support our Park District to enrich community life through healthy leisure pursuits and an appreciation of the natural world. That includes addressing the needs of all families who use our facilities, live in our community, and attend our schools. The Foundation recently launched FYI to augment our already successful SMILE program which serves Highland Park residents. We are proud of our outreach and believe it is good business to be as good a neighbor to our Highwood friends as they are to us. We thank the Community Foundation for supporting these efforts.”

The Highland Park Community Foundation annually awards grants though a competitive application and review process. For more information, visit www.hpcfil.org.

The Parks Foundation of Highland Park believes every resident deserves the opportunity for an enriched healthy life. It provides the resources necessary for everyone in our community to have access to the benefits of our world-class park district and contributes to enduring legacies within the community for future generations. The Parks Foundation of Highland Park is an independent, community-led, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, visit https://pfhpil.aplos.org/

The Highland Park Community Foundation was established in 1992 at the request of the City of Highland Park to build and maintain a permanent endowment fund. The fund serves to support and expand the services of social service, cultural, and educational agencies in Highland Park and Highwood. It is also used to nurture the early stages of new and innovative programs. As the philanthropic heart of the community, the HPCF strives to improve and enrich people’s lives with annual grants to nonprofits that provide programs and services for Highland Park and Highwood residents. For more information, visit www.hpcfil.org.